Girls GymnasticsNorth Stars Gymnastics Athletes Medal at Nationals By BigStateSports May 21, 2025 By Rosa Cirianni (of Rose Writes Strategies) BOONTON, N.J. (May 21, 2025) — Several North Stars Gymnastics Academy athletes brought home national medals, with one gymnast tying first place on uneven bars, and others ranking among the top all-arounders and event specialists for their age groups in the nation. North Stars sent eight Level 10 athletes to the USAG Women’s Development Program 2025 National Championships held at the Mountain America Exposition Center in Sandy, Utah from May 8 to 11. It also sent three Level 9s to the Level 9 Eastern Championships at the Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek, Michigan. USAG is made up of eight regions. Level 9 Easterns consists of Regions 5, 6, 7 and 8 — representing 26 states in the Eastern part of the U.S. The other half, Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4, will compete at Westerns the same weekend in Fargo, North Dakota. The Level 10 Championship is the entire U.S. The Level 9s and 10s competed individually and had to qualify as the top seven in their age groups at Regionals to be part of their Region 7 teams, representing six states including Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Each of the age group Region 7 teams competed against seven other regions throughout the country The Level 10 Jr. D team took third place. “These national awards and rankings represent consistent hard work, dedication and commitment our athletes have shown in overcoming setbacks and pushing themselves to take their gymnastics to the next level,” said Ashley Umberger, CEO, part owner and head coach of North Stars Gymnastics Academy. “We are enormously proud of their determination to keep reaching for greatness and their resolve to become the best versions of themselves.” Led by Umberger, the 11 athletes also were coached by Faith Baranowski, Heather Moroz, Melissa Jones and Brielle Benoski. North Stars’ Level 10 national medalists: Maxine Cometa, 14, Leonia (Bergen County), Class of 2028, Jr. A North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, freshman **Bars: 9.700, 1st place tie Beam: 8.025 Floor: 9.250 Vault: 8.875AA: 35.850, 41st place Stella Fischer, 15, Bridgewater (Somerset County), Class of 2027, Jr. D North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, Sophomore Bars: 8.750 Beam: 9.525, 5th place tie Floor: 9.550 Vault: 9.275 AA: 37.100, 23rd place Leah Higgins, 14, Derry, New Hampshire, Class of 2029, Jr. B North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, 8th Grade Bars: 9.375, 13th place tie Beam: 9.275 Floor: 9.450 Vault: 9.650, 7th place tieAA: 37.750, 7th place tie Sophia Rocca, Blairstown (Warren County) Class of 2028, Jr. D North Stars Gymnastics Academy Homeschool Program, freshman Bars: 9.000 Beam: 9.525, 5th place tie Floor: 9.425 Vault: 9.275 AA: 37.225, 19th place Sh’Nai Thompson, ,17, Dunellen (Middlesex County) Class of 2025, Sr. C North Stars Gymnastics Academy Homeschool Program and Dunellen High School, senior Ithaca commit Bars: 7.100 Beam: 9.500, 10th place tie Floor: 9.325 Vault: 9.250AA: 35.1750, 50th place Teneil Turnbull, 14, Fairview (Bergen County), Class of 2028, Jr. B North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, freshman Bars: 9.250 Beam: 9.075 Floor: 9.700, 6th place Vault: 9.575, 19th placeAA: 37.600, 12th place Maria Verrone, 13, Parsippany (Morris County), Class of 2029, Jr. A North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, eighth grade Bars: 7.550 Beam: 8.425 Floor: 9.425 Vault: 9.050AA: 34.450, 50th place Level 10, Region 7 alternate and floor specialist in the All-Star Session Sophia Betz, 12, East Hanover (Morris County), Class of 2031, Jr. A North Stars Gymnastics Academy homeschool program, 6th grade 6th grade Floor: 9.150 North Stars’ Level 9 Eastern Championships medalists: Lexi Miller, 10, Montville (Morris County) Class of 2032,Jr. 1 North Stars Gymnastics Academy Homeschool Program, fifth grade Bars: 9.400, 11th place Beam: 9.175, 15th place Floor: 9.375, 7th place tie Vault: 9.050, 16th place tieAA: 37.000, 9th place Aria Sanchez, 10, Boonton (Morris County) ) Class of 2032,Jr. 1 North Stars Gymnastics Academy Homeschool Program, fifth grade Bars: 8.675 Beam: 8.725, 19th place Floor: 9.425, 5th place Vault: 9.125, 13th placeAA: 35.9500, 20th place Sydnee Williams, 15, Somerset (Somerset County) Class of 2027, Sr. 3 Franklin High School, sophomore Bars, 9.400, eighth place tie Beam, 9.300, fifth place tie Floor, 9.025 Vault, 9.475, third place AA: 37.200, fifth place About North Stars: North Stars Gymnastics Academy has been a national training center in Morris County for 50 years with female gymnasts earning placements and awards at the national and international levels. It boasts medalists in USA Championships, Goodwill Games, Pan American Games, Pacific Alliance Championships and competitions in France, South Korea, England, Russia, Bulgaria, Colombia, U.S. Olympic Trials, and more. North Stars prides itself on its ability to train athletes to build the necessary skills to secure athletic and academic college scholarships. To learn more about North Stars, visit https://www.northstarsgymnastics.com/. Photo Caption LEFT TO RIGHT: Top row: North Stars Gymnastics Academy Level 10 National qualifiers are pictured at the USAG 2025 Development Program National Championships’ Opening Ceremonies held earlier this month at the America First Field in Sandy, Utah. They are Sophia Rocca, Maria Verrone, Sophia Betz, Sh’Nai Thompson, Stella Fischer, Leah Higgins, Teneil Turnbull and Maxine Cometa. Bottom row: Sydnee Williams, Aria Sanchez and Lexi Miller are North Stars’ three Level 9 gymnasts who medaled at the USA Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Level 9 Eastern Championships in Battle Creek, Michigan.